Wang Yi Holds Virtual Meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn

On May 8, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a virtual meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn.

Wang Yi said, against the backdrop of complex and profound changes in international and regional landscape, the constant spillover of the Ukraine crisis and the once-in-a-century pandemic, as ironclad friends and a community with a shared future that have withstood various tests, China and Cambodia should carry forward the traditional friendship, strengthen strategic communication, coordinate positions in a timely manner, work together to meet challenges, and jointly safeguard the hard-won peace, stability and development in the region.

Wang Yi said, China firmly supports Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen in leading the Cambodian People's Party to successfully advance various important political agendas and achieve long-term peace and stability in the country. China regards Cambodia as an important partner and priority in Belt and Road cooperation, and stands ready to work with Cambodia to advance key projects at a faster pace, make good use of China-Cambodia free trade agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, so as to further enhance the scale and quality of bilateral trade and investment. China will continue to fully support Cambodia in fighting the pandemic, provide vaccine assistance according to Cambodia's needs, carry out vaccine filling and packaging cooperation, and enhance bilateral cooperation in people's well-being and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Wang Yi pointed out, this year kicks off the implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). China firmly supports Cambodia's role as the rotating chair of ASEAN, and stands ready to strengthen coordination and collaboration with Cambodia and other ASEAN countries to update the action plan on implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership as soon as possible, explore ways to deepen cooperation in fields such as digital connectivity, green economy, blue economy, public health, and industrial and supply chains, and push for new important progress in China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership and East Asian cooperation. China hopes that the consultations on a code of conduct in the South China Sea will maintain the positive momentum and reach a consensus as soon as possible. China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to jointly uphold the right course of East Asian cooperation and safeguard the overall interests of relations between China and ASEAN.

Wang Yi said, China speaks highly of Cambodia's efforts to mediate the Myanmar issue since taking over the rotating chair of ASEAN, and supports Cambodia's adherence to the ASEAN way when it communicates with Myanmar to implement the "five-point consensus", and pushes all parties in Myanmar to properly settle their differences to restart the democratic transition process in Myanmar.

Wang Yi said, in today's world, peace is being impacted and development is getting into trouble. Facing various new global challenges, President Xi Jinping successively proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI). From the perspective of building a community with a shared future for mankind, he put forward a Chinese approach to establishing a global governance system with greater justice and equity, which has been widely supported and echoed by the international community, especially Asian countries. China is ready to work with ASEAN to promote the implementation of the two initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping in the region and safeguard regional peace, stability, prosperity and development.

Wang Yi said, the world today is confronted with a choice between solidarity and division, and between cooperation and confrontation. From next month, China, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand will successively host the BRICS Summit, the Leaders' Meetings on East Asian Cooperation, the G20 Summit, and the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, ushering in an "Asian moment" for the global governance. The international community expects Asia to play a leading role in this regard. China is ready to work with Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand to jointly send a strong message from Asia about the commitment to promoting peace and development, release an active signal of upholding multilateralism, inject more stable expectations into the region and beyond, and contribute Asian strengths to addressing global challenges. Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand issued a joint press statement a few days ago, stressing that the international community should meet challenges in solidarity and develop in an open and inclusive manner. This conforms to the unanimous will of all countries in the world to oppose bloc confrontation and promote stability and prosperity together, demonstrates the clear will to resist external interference and safeguard strategic autonomy, and also shows firm confidence in promoting regional and multilateral cooperation. China holds the view that currently, the world should listen more to Asian voices, respect Asian positions and learn from Asian wisdom. China believes that as the rotating chair of ASEAN, Cambodia will play a unique and constructive role in this regard.

Wang Yi stressed, Asia is a place where China, Cambodia and other countries survive and thrive. The moves to introduce the Cold War mentality into the region and incite and create camp confrontation will undermine the peace and development that the region has enjoyed for many years. Asian countries should stay vigilant and reject such moves together. China is glad to see countries outside the region play an active and constructive role in the peace and development in the region, but China does not accept any actions that undermine peace, stability, solidarity and cooperation in the region.

Prak Sokhonn wishes successful convening of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in advance, thanks China for its great help in Cambodia's pandemic response and post-pandemic economic recovery, supports China in adopting the dynamic zero-COVID policy in line with its national conditions, and believes that China will be able to defeat the pandemic. Prak Sokhonn said, China's development path was blazed by the Chinese people with wisdom, determination and struggle, and China's peaceful rise is an irresistible historical trend, which is conducive to making new contributions to lasting peace and common development in the region. Cambodia supports the GDI and GSI put forward by President Xi Jinping, believes that the two initiatives can't be more relevant under the current circumstances, and stands ready to cooperate closely with China in this regard. Cambodia will stay committed to the one-China principle, support the "one country, two systems" policy, and firmly support China's legitimate position on issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Xizang, among others. Cambodia is ready to work with China to further promote Belt and Road cooperation, which has been progressing well. Cambodia believes that the two countries will continuously make greater achievements in the two countries' ongoing efforts to build a community with a shared future. Cambodia advocates speeding up the implementation of the outcomes of the ASEAN-China Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, building a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home together, and further enhancing the level of ASEAN-China relations. Cambodia hopes to strengthen communication and coordination with China to bring the situation in Myanmar back to the normal track at an early date. Today's world is very complex, and it is necessary to find the right way to address various challenges. ASEAN will properly cope with various challenges, maintain friendly and cooperative relations with dialogue partners, uphold ASEAN solidarity and centrality, and safeguard regional peace, stability and development.